What to expect from the logo process

First of all, congrats! You’ve made the decision to upgrade your branding. That’s huge! And exciting! And…probably a little scary? You’re likely not entirely sure what you’re getting yourself into. So, let me start by saying I’m here to make it as painless as possible. 

A few things before we start:

Please, PLEASE look through my package options. If none of them feel quite right, that’s ok! This isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. We can always do add-ons or make a customized package for you. And if we finish up and you find you‘re kicking yourself for not including business cards, or a reference board, or whatever, it’s cool! We can always add those later. I’ll keep your files on hand for at least 3 years. We can work on those whenever you’re ready. Right now the important piece is the logo. It’s fine to just start there. 

If you know what package you want, hit me up and let’s get started. If you’re not sure what's going to be best, or you know you want something custom, book an appointment with me and we’ll talk it out. 

Alright, let’s do this:

Once we’ve been in contact, I’ll send you over a quote and contract, and then an invoice for 50% of the cost. Once that’s paid, I’ll send you a questionnaire that covers everything from your business’s message and target market to any design aspects you’d like to see or avoid. If you have a hard time answering any of the questions, then don’t! It’s designed to help me understand more about you and the message we’re trying to convey, but not all questions pertain to all businesses, and I’m pretty good at reading between the lines, so just do your best. There aren’t any wrong answers here.

At that point, I’ll put you officially in the queue. My availability is really what dictates how long it will be to start working on your sketches, but it generally takes a couple weeks to get to that point. (SO THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE!!) 

What’s happening behind the scenes:

I let things stew in my brain for a few days, and then idea-vomit with paper and pencil. I try and get every idea swimming around out; usually badly, but at least it’s on paper. From there, I see what might actually WORK. I pick a few to play with, and move on to the computer. Sometimes what works in my brain and on paper just doesn’t translate digitally, so I have to decide whether it’s worth going down a rabbit hole to make it work or not. When I do, the outcome is usually pretty far from what I started with. 

I’ll eventually pull the winners to send to you for your feedback. Depending on the number of options in your package, you can expect 2-5 options (sometimes I throw a freebie in for you if I really can’t decide what to cut). I’ll be honest that my preference is sending 4+ options because I can really give you a wide range that way. I aim to include 1-2 that cover any ideas or requests you’ve had, 1 you probably initially won’t like, and 1 that’s a bit out of left field. I do this purposefully! I want to push you out of your comfort zone a bit- what you think you want may not be actually what you want, and vice versa. It happens - often!

Once the options are in your court:

At this point, I want you to print the options out. I want you to tape them up on a wall in your kitchen, your office, your bathroom - where ever you’re going to see them a lot. And I want you to look at them. A lot. 

After a few days, I want you to get back to me with your thoughts.    

PLEASE READ THIS SENTENCE:  I need honest feedback. This is your baby. You’re not going to hurt my feelings, I promise. 

If you love one, we can move on with finalizing. But if you’re feeling meh, tell me! If you’re curious what Option A would look like in a different color scheme, ask. If you’d like to see what the icon in Option B looks like with the font from Option C, ask. If you love this one detail, but are wondering if we can rework it in a new way, or you’re not feeling any of the fonts, let me know! This is where we funnel down and get to where we’re aiming to go. But I can’t do that without your input. 

At some point in the final decision, you just might second guess your gut. You know you think you love one, but this is a Big Decision, and you just. don’t. know. That’s why I want you to tape up those options. The more you look at them, the more drawn you’ll be to one. Still can’t decide? Ask one person for input. Two, at most. And pick the person(s) that know YOU and your business the very best. This not a time to crowd-source opinions. Really- you’ll only end up more conflicted if you do.

You’ve made a decision! Here’s what happens next:

Once you’ve approved a design, I will get to work collecting files. When those are completed, I’ll send you a final invoice for the balance. Once paid, I’ll send over your file folder. Please note that some designs allow for/require more files than others. You may get more than what’s listed on your quote.

Sooooo, the logo is done. Now what?

Now you put that shiny new logo to use! I try and answer a lot of usage questions in the brand board, but you may run into something funky. So if you’ve got questions, or need a different file type, or whatever it is that comes up? Email me. Text me. Voxer me. Marco Polo me. (But please don’t do all of those, ok?)

I keep files for at least 3 years, so I’m always here to help if you need me. You don’t have to feel like you’re wading through the unknown alone.

Lastly, and most importantly, thank you for trusting me with such an important element of your business. Handing over final artwork to my clients that they’re proud to use and show off—there is no higher compliment than that.

-Pam